Leather Sewing Machines Hand Stitching Machine Cobbler Sewing Machine for Shoes/Upsolery/Zippers/Coats/Bags/Cloth/Belt/DIY Items with 48Pcs Leather Sewing Tools

Considering value for money, this machine is fantastic! It cost less than 10% of what a new branded machine could have cost. For $1500 I could not own a walking foot machine for my workshop. For $160, I have one sitting in my shop and can use it whenever I need to make a tool kit or protective sleeve for my antique cabinet maker's and furniture maker's tools - which is my primary use. I'm sewing canvas, leather and vinyl. I will echo others' comments. The bad ratings did cause me to hesitate and do more research. This is not 'plug and play' ready. You will need to wipe it down and give it some fine tuning - but only minor things if yours is like mine. This machine is for someone who likes machines and likes adjusting them. As far as construction, it is cast iron, steel and 'bullet proof.' Mine has sealed ball bearings where it needs them. It will arrive as a machine more directly from the tool shop/factory than from the fabric store. You must wipe it down of the oils and grime. Not bad, but it isn't a Brother Sew-At-Home right out of the box. It is a copy of a crude but very successful antique design from long ago, cast and fabricated in a machine shop. You will also want to file rough edges, polish some things bright and smooth, and give it gentle TLC to suit yourself. Again, for a dime on the dollar to own one, you have the budget and the motivation to do this! As for sewing: If you can get 'it' under the needle (about 1/2-inch clearance/thickness) this machine will sew it! If the foot is too sharp for you, wire brush it down or dip it in vinyl tool handle materials commonly available for shops. I haven't done anything with mine and it is fine. I have been sewing leather and mostly vinyl/naugahyde. It works great. I do think the thread they send might be a source of complaints and I want to address that. The thread itself is OK. I have added bonded nylon, but the spool they sent is OK. Trouble is, it is a top-wound commercial spool. The machine was designed for the more common 'unwinding' type cylinder spools found on home sewing machines. If you try putting the commercial spool they send on the spool peg that comes with the machine, you are doomed to fail. Those commercial spools will not 'unwind' by themselves like a home spool will and the thread will break and give poor stitching. So, either re-wind the thread off the commercial spool onto a common household spool, or use a high overhead support made from a coat hanger or such (as seen on youtube). Then, you're off to the races. I have ordered replacement bobbins from a saddle shop in Idaho. Very disappointed. They pictured 10, sent 5; 2 were steel and did fit; 3 were aluminum and did not fit. I have not ordered yet, but from my research it appears that small bobbins for the Singer 29 will fit this machine. Maybe a little sanding might be needed, but they look like they will fit. Also, the shuttle hooks for the Singer 29 appear to be the same, too. There is one little bit on the Singer shuttle hook that may need to be ground off, but I think these could fit. So - I don't feel like I'm beached for parts in the very unlikely event I might need more. (EDIT NOTE: 7-27-2018. I have purchased small bobbins for the Singer 29 and they do fit. The shuttle hook sent also will fit with just a little bit of polishing and fine sanding.) The stand is a joke. But it is only 3 pieces of tubing. I mounted mine on a wooden base. Easy to do using the mounting holes already provided for in the castings. As far as shipping: I ordered the machine on Monday. It left China on Tuesday. It arrived in Omaha, NE (my closest city) by Friday afternoon. Amazing! I live about 50 miles out in the country, so it didn't get delivered to me until the next Monday. I could have gone to Omaha to pick it up sooner, but that's my life in the country.... So all-in-all, this is just a fantastic machine to own if you have need for something that will sew heavy fabric/leather/vinyl and don't want to spend 10 times the money to have a capable machine. Plus, you're owning a copy of an important piece of history. This is a copy of the Bradbury Elastic A-1. It is not a copy of the Singer 29. In fact, it appears that the Singer 29 has copied some things from the Bradbury (circa 1852).

First a warning. “Fisters” has no machines or replacement items. They are simply a pass thru , taking your money and telling the actual Chinese manufacturer to ship a machine to you. If your machine arrives and it’s missing items then there is little hope of ever receiving them from “ Fisters”. I’m still waiting for the 10 spare needles, spare bobbins and thread rod and nut. If I ever receive them I’ll update this review. “Fisters” suspect customer service isn’t a reflection on the machine itself. It ROCKS. Choose your seller carefully and enjoy a wonderful piece of 1900 technology that still works amazingly in 2018. After reading some of the negative reviews I was a bit worried. The positive reviews changed my mind. It appeared the plug and play folks were the negative reviews. The positive reviews were by folks with a degree of mechanical ability and understood these simple machines could be brought to life with just a bit of thought and effort. Mine arrived well packed in a rigid foam fitted box. It was well oiled to survive it’s journey from China. I took it outside and completely unpacked it. Then used one can of aerosol brake cleaner. That completely removed all the oil. Allowed it to dry. You then have to install the large steel drive wheel using the supplied nut. The stand wasn’t used as it’s flimsy and at a awkward height for our average person. It appears to be set for a smaller person who is seated on a short stool. Some scrap lumber and drywall screws made a stable base to set it on a table. Having watched a couple Utube videos it was easy to thread both the bobbin and needle, and make some minor adjustments. I did make a threading rod from a 8 inch piece of fine iron wire. I oiled the indicated lubrication points and checked to make sure it operated and picked up the bobbin thread. If you have difficulty removing the bobbin just use a small magnet to lift it out. Works splendidly ! #69 thread works great in the needle and bobbin. If you buy a “as is” machine and you are even slightly mechanical this machine is very easy to get cleaned up and running. And to the reviewer who stated the bobbin winder wouldn’t work- ever. Just swing it around so it’s small rubber wheel rubs on the large drive wheel. Pop a bobbin on. The small black rubber “tire” presses against the rim of the large steel drive wheel. The friction between them spins the bobbin as you turn the drive wheel. If the bobbin doesn’t turn rough up the “tires” face with a medium grit sand paper. Degrease and lightly sand the rim of the drive wheel. You are trying to increase the friction. Then the bobbin spins very fast. Wind away. It works perfect. If your glass is always half empty don’t buy this machine. For the folks who view their glass as half full buy it. It’s easy to get set up, sews most anything that fits under it’s presser foot and built like a tank. And on the lack of a main bearing. Mine must be a updated unit or different manufacturer. The main drive shaft runs through a nice set of ball roller bearings. It’s my understanding that these machines are made by several factories in China. Basically copies of the 120 year old Singer 29-4. Mine is green and bears a label of “ HUANGLONG” sewing Machine. Perhaps others received less well made machines than this one. Just plain fun to use. Ps Used Singer 29-4 s run $500-$1000. Collector items. 10 mar 2018 I simply haven’t been able to get 150 waxed leather style thread to run in this machine, even in size 25 needles. 138 bonded nylon and a 20-22 needle seems to be the largest thread this machine can handle. That’s still a very heavy ,strong thread. I’m using it on leather too leather projects. At this machine’s closest stitch , 7 to the inch, it works pretty good on leather. Sadly 150 waxed evades me. 3 Apr 2018 Update. They missing items that Fisters promised did actually arrive from China on this date. So Fisters was true to their word on their promise of customer service. Good job Fisters. April 2018 On the other hand Bantam Saddle Tack forgot to include one item on my first order. Said they would reship , but never did. My second order , for parts, from them never arrived and they refused to provide any shipping/ tracking info. After some email exchanges they did refund my money on the “ lost” order and the missing item. So, You will have to decide who gets YOUR business.

I've had it a few weeks now and wanted to give others thinking of buying it a bit more insight into the machine. The bad: It really should come with a diagram explaining how to thread it correctly. Yes, you can spend a few hours on youtube, but a 1 page diagram would solve the issue in 2 minutes (it's not complicated). The stand is workable, but pretty flimsy. It's at a weird height too. On the floor you kneel to use it, on a table its not at a sitting or standing height (unless youre 7ft tall). I mounted it on a homemade stand after a few days. A MAJOR issue I have is that the main axle the machine runs on is not on bearings, it appears to be shoved through the frame and then a chunk of cast iron. You can oil the chunk of cast iron, but not the frame. That will be a big problem one day. I'd have gladly paid another few $ and have had bushings or bearings in there. The bobbin winder does not even act like it will work. Ever. The good: It works. Once you get it set up right, it sews reliably and well. I haven't put anything under it it could not sew, including about 1/4" thick leather. It uses standard sewing machine needles. For better or worse. Had a small issue, customer service responded and was great. After using it a few weeks, I really think this is a good value for what you get.

Denied return of defective item, and now bullying/tricking me to cancel claim! "After you withdrawn the claim, we will fully refund this order for you. We have already applied to the Finance for refund your order ,after you have withdrawn the claim, we will refund the postage and the item price to you immediately. We will not lie and if we lie you can go to Amazon case appealing to complain us." Arrived in a pile of grimy and bent parts, no instructions, and after more than 8 hours of wallowing in EXTREME dirt and grease (probably carcinogenic too), being cut open and bleeding from unfinished sharp edges, and trying to talk to these folks, it NEVER MADE ONE SINGLE STITCH! Hours of watching every youtube video, my machine was damaged and defective from poor packing and development. Bent out of shape with no possible adjustments to remedy. (The needle guide/tube was WAY out of whack, and the take-up lever was all bent out of shape) and it's been weeks, many emails (mostly from them!), only to be lied to, as they keep trying to get me to close the claim (claim opened after not getting ANYWHERE with these unbelievable crooks) without addressing my concerns! Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this one. And if you ignore my warning, just know what you're in for. After extensive research, I've learned that less than 30% of these are even operable, and even then it takes a lot of effort and you'll still be in a world of hurt, struggling with tangles and broken threads. A big caveat, is how the presser foot will mar the heck out of your material. So sharp, and its adjustment barely adjusts anything... The "sample" of leather under this pressure-foot with "sample stitches" is a LIE! The sample piece of leather had NO presser foot markings on it, meaning it was sewn on a different machine, then placed here to look like it had been tested! Wow! As SOON as I lowered the presser foot on this immaculate sample, it chewed the leather ALL UP with its sharp teeth (on its presser foot). Obvious trickery! Their company is aptly named, "FISTERS" as that's pretty much what they'll do to you, if you make the mistake of giving these thieves/tricksters your money. I'm appalled by their practices and attempts to manipulate me into closing my only recourse from their abuse. CAVEAT EMPTOR! Xiamen DuZheng Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd cannot be trusted!

It's a crude, simply machine that works. I've sewn through four layers of 7-9 oz veg-tanned tooling leather with no issue (7/16" thick). If you can fit it under the presser foot, it'll stitch for for. HOWEVER, be aware of the time it takes to get this machine going. It comes to you dirty and oily, and unfortunately there's a fair chance some parts might come to you broken. That was the case for me and thankfully the part was simply enough that I was about to just make a replacement out of some scrap steel laying around. The instructions it comes with are a joke, so use youtube to figure the machine out, and the thread for heavy leather is garbage. Constantly breaking on me. However, it does work, it will punch through and stitch what fit under the foot, and it costs less than $200. IMO that beats spending almost $1,500 on a Tippman Boss even if it requires some work on your end. I like it, and I know I'll be using it a lot. I can't give it more than 3 stars because of the broken part and dirt state it comes in, but three stars says that its still worth something.

Was much easier to set up and use than expected , have already made or repaired 5 different items. It is a rugged heavy duty tool , did not bother to clean it or polish parts , used it the way it came , just added more oil to pivot points. I am even using the stock tripod stand , sitting on top of an old metal desk , but secured with a bungee from behind just so it won't tip. I operate it standing up and like the exercise and control the manual crank give . I do not plan to "electrify" or permanently mount it. This machine is very impressive in what it will sew through with out even straining . I would have bought one many years ago if I would have known about them. Buy one , but watch the YouTube videos about them and expect to be involved in its use..... Update just helped three visitors sew their own drawstring bag. They thought it was great........ Update I have had it about 1 and a half years now and still really like it. Works wonderful on heavy duty projects but is very slow for , like making a pillow case out of regular material , so I found an old but very good regular sewing machine at a thrift store which only needed a new electrical cord. The heavy duty hand crank machine and the regular machine make a perfect pair ....update again. I have had it almost 4 years now . I did make a stand for it , took a small cabinet and mounted it on the very corner with everything sticking over the edge except the actual mounting plate, gives me lots of clearance for bulky items plus I can sit down . Took off the bobbin rewind mechanism and changed the shape of the foot-raise-lever because I needed extra clearance for a motorcycle handlebar mounted very thick leather bag that matches the tool bag on the back fender. The bobbin is easy enough to rewind by hand so it is not a problem.

I read all the reviews and watched all the videos on Youtube. It still took me 10 hours before it would make the first stitch. The timing was out. Sharp edges everywhere. Inside the bobbin carrier, the bobbin and the shuttle. The thread tube cuts the thread and so on. after working on it for a week it was ok. Still not stitching right on the thick leather. I hooked it up to servo motor and it still works just ok. It won't stitch without having a problem of some type. Tension is now the main issue. Wind it with a drill. I finally spent the big bucks for a industrial leather sewing machine. This is ok for small projects. if you need it to make money look else where and save your Money. I'm out $300 for the Motor, machine and spare parts that I can't return. Remember, you have to work on it before it will work. Once you have worked on it you can't return it.

I knew there were some being imported that didn’t use bearings in places where they were necessary, just rods through holes that you had to grease. I didn’t know what I was going to get, but this seller is delivering the well made models. Even if it is a little crude and you are expected to do a little adjustment and polish on it yourself, saving $1,000 or more is certainly worth it. It’s also a little piece of history. Most people will say it is based on the Singer model 29 but it is obviously a close copy of the Bradbury shoe sewing machine that was marketed to Asia in 1875. It worked well, and they copied that model in particular because it’s solid and reliable. I’ve had the machine for about three weeks now and I’m very happy with it. I would suggest putting some thin hard washer between the actuator arms and the frame up at the top where they scissor together. You might even use some super thin 2mm thrust bearings if you wanted it extra smooth and free. A little polish inside the bobbin holder with a Dremel tool would be a good idea. Mine is green with no decals or name plate of any sort by the way.